Mechanical plating apparatus



5 Sheets-.Sheet l J G SWAIN ET AL MECHANICAL PLATING APPARATUS oct. 5,1925. 1,555,045

J. G. SWAlN ET AL MECHANICAL PLATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 25. 192i s sheets-sheet 5, @FFC/5 Patented Oa. v(i, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH G. swAnr Alm nAx n. PADE, 'or AxaoN, Omo, Assrenocas To THE nnEs'roNE swam. PRODUCTS COMPANY, or Anon, omo, A CORPORATION or Omo.

uEonAmcAL PLATINO. APPAnATUs.

To all 'whom it may concem.'

Be it known that we, JOSEPH G. SWATN and MAX H. PADE, citizens of -the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Plating Apparatus, of which the following .is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in apparatus for. use in electroplating annular objects such as tire rims or s1m1lar articles.

The purpose of our invention, broadly stated, is to provide a practical apparatus adapted for continuous operation to transport and immerse a large number of articles in a plurality of baths whereby they are prepared for and subjected to an electroplating process, the operation of electroplating being carried on automatically.

Our invention is also directed towardprovidinga form ofapparatus whereby suchy articles may be transported in a suspended position by means particularly designed to( occupy a relatively small amount of floor space.

An yequally importantobject of our invention is to provide, in conjunction wlth means for suspending'and transporting the'v objects, devices for -rotating the objects relative to the suspension means so that every portion ofl the object may be properly subjected to the action of an electroplating bath. K

Withk these, and other objects in view -as will presently appear, the invention resides inthe construction and arrangement of cooperating elements, illustrated in their preferred assembly inl the yaccompanying drawings, and set forth in detail in the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view illustrating, generally, a preferred form of apparatus constructed in accordance with our invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in side elevation, illustrating an intermediate portion of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is a side elevational View, parts lbeing broken out, illustrating that portion of the apparatus oorlt'iguous the port-ion v igure 6 is a sectional-view, taken on the .line 6-6 of Figure 5.

The invention will now be described in detail. Referring to the drawings by numeral, 1 desi ates, as a whole, a `frame work comprislng a series of pairs of upright supports 2, the supports of each being oppositely disposed and connecte by suitably arranged braces as shown at Each pair of uprights is suspended from spaced parallel girders 4 arranged longitudinally of the apparatus which may in turn be supported in anysuitable manner as I by columns, two of which are shown at 4*. 4

Beneath the supports 2, a number of .tanks are arranged in a rowl to contain vari-l ous liquids of the following character: Starting with the `end of the apparatus, designated, in the drawings, Loadingf is a tank for a soda or other solutionA suit.- able for use in preparing the articles for the plating process, 6 is a tank for a pickling solution, 7 and 8 are tanks for suitable spraying and cleaning solutions, 9 is a tank for the electroplating fluid, and 10 and 11 are respectively spraying cabinets for'use after the articles have been plated. The specific character of the fluids andsolutions which these tanks are'desi ed to contain forms no particular part o .the present invention and therefore will not be entered into herein. It is sufficient to say that these tanks are for the purpose of containing fiuids or solutions of the general character above indicated and are arranged in succession and preferably in the order set forth relative to the loading and unloading ends of the apparatus. y

Above the tanks,'an endless conveyor 12 is arranged to travel, between opposed supports 2, upon a pair of superposed trackways which comprise, respectively, laterally spaced rails 13. `T-he rails 13 are supair y out of the tanks. Likewise the rails 13 of.

the lower trackway are constructed with elevated portions in the spray vcabinets 7, 10 and 11. At suitable points, over. the plating tank 9, the rails 13 of the lower trackway are provided with spaced pairs of arcuate rises, one rise of each pair being shown at 14. The rises of each pair are oppositely disposed, as will be understood without further explanation. These rises y serve a purpose-presently set forth,

The conveyor 12 Jmprisesl duplicate endless chains 15 of any suitable construction, adapted respectively to travel lupon superposed rails 13 ofeach trackway, the chains 15 beingheld in laterally spaced relation at re lar intervals by cross bars 15a carrying ro 1ers 15b which travel on the rails 13.

Cross shafts 16 and 17 are journaled respectively at opposite ends of the frame 1, one of which, preferably 17, is driven by means of a sprocket vwheel 18 fast thereon and meshing with a driven pinion 19. The pinion 19 may be driven 1n any desired manner. Each shaft 16 and 17 is rovided with spaced sprockets, one of which 1s shown at 2O in each instance, which support the loop of the conveyor chains14 at points above the tanks. Idler sprockets 21 are provided at suitable points over the rails 13 of the lower trackway adapted to guide the conveyor chains as they ascend and descend over the tanks 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. Each cross bar 15 carries a pairof duplicate swinging brackets 22 adapted respectively to suspend the objects from the conveyor 12. The bracketsI of each bar are mounted one upon each side of the center thereofv and are constructed as follows: Each bracket is formed with a depending bifurcated portion p 23 which, 'at its upper end, terminates in a hook 24 adapted to take over a longitudinally split sleeve 25 that is clamped upon the bar. Between the bar and the sleeve 25 a suitable insulating sleeve 26 is interposed for a purpose presently apparent. The sleeve 25 is Han ed adjacent each end thereof, whereby the racket 22 is prevented from lateral play upon the bar. The bifurcated ends 23 of the bracket are arranged in a transverse plane with respect to the conveyor, and are outwardly and ups` wardly turned to provide hooked portions 26a upon which the annular object may be suspended. for both vertical and rotary movement thereon, a recess 26b being provided at the lowermost portion of the hookl to permit passage of any projection, such as ears 27 of each bracket to swing in a vertical plane. One end of the brush 28 is counf terweighted, as at 29, so that the other end is normally thrown upwardly.

The brushes 28 are designed to engage a air of horizontal contact rails 30 arranged ongitudinally over the tank 9 and connected in any suitable manner to a source of elec-- trical energy. In this instance, a cross bar 31 connects the rails 30` with a bus bar 32, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The contact rails are supported in such manner upon the frame 1 that theyy are insulated therefrom, asA indicated at 33 of Figure 4. As shown in Figure 2, they are provided with spaced rises 34 directly below the-'rises in the rails 13.

A plurality of rods 35 are supported longitudinally of the tank 9, adjacent its upper edge, in any suitable manner, upon which a number of anodes 36 may be suspended in parallel rows extending longitudinally of the tank. A suitable number of rows of anodes may be provided so that each longitudinal row of rims passes directly between vtwo rows of anodes.v Preferably the tank 9 is surrounded by a filler layer of suitable material designated 37 in the drawings, and is supported on insulating blocks 37a.

Within the tank 9 a plurality of adjustable shoes 38 are arranged. in rows extending transversely of the tank, one row of shoes being directlybelow each pair of rises 14 in the rails 13. These Shoes 38 of each row are arranged at such intervals transversely of the tank that they are disposed in the ath of travel of the rows of annular objects, as will be seen by reference to Figure of' annular objects which may be electroplated upon the brackets 22 and are adjustable in groups of two. .That is to say, each pair of shoes 38 upon one side of the longitudinal center of the tank is adjustable as a unit. To adjust the pairs of shoes ambas.

38, we provide aplurality of fulcrumed levers 38. Each lever is fulcrumed/intermediate its length upon the tank 9, as at 38", to swing ongitudinally of the tank. At its lower end each lever 38 carries a rod 38 that extends transversely of the tank 9 and engages a pair of shoes 38 in such manner that when the lever is swung its associated pair of shoes will be slid longitudinally of the tank. Levers 38* are provided with detents 38l and racks 38 to hold them in adjusted position. Each shoe 38 comprises a vertical front face 39 constituting a portion of suiicient height to lift the annular objects as they are drawn thereover vand an inclined face 40. As the objects are drawn through the tank 9 their lower portions abut the vertical faces 39 of the shoes38 and said objects are raised upon the hooks 26. As they are drawn over the faces 39 they will gravitate and roll down the inclined-faces 40. In this manner the rims or other annuli are intermittently turned and the portion of each formerly engaging the hook is rotated into position to be again immersed in the electroplating Huid so that the entire surface of each article is subjected to the electro latingaction. In order that objects of diiflerent sizes maybe thus rotated, we have provided the levers 38 and their associated parts whereby the shoes may be adjusted to vary the distance of the vertical faces or high portions. 39 of the shoes 38 relative to the rises`14.v The rises andthe shoes 38 are so located that the lifting actionV of the shoes 38 will not operate to disengage the rims or other annuli :from the hooks 26". The levelof the electroplatin fluid in the tank`9 is preferably maintaine at a suilicient height to substantially cover the annular objects, but in order to insure a uniform result of the plating process around the complete annulus, it. has beeny found advisable that the portion of each annulus in engagement with its associated hookbe subjected to the electroplating proc-- ortion is free from such urthermore it has been ess while said engagement.

found that by rotating the articles in the plating fluid, a more uniform result is obtained in the plating process. v l

The foregolng form and construction of apparatus will be found to possess many advantages. By its use a large number of rims may be electroplated` by merely placing them in double pairs upon the brackets 22 at the loading end of the apparatusy and removing them at the unloading end. In the meantime they are mechanically dipped in the proper solutions preparato to the electroplating process, spraye cleaned, and immersed in-the electroplating fluid, and again sprayed without being handled by the operators. l Furthermore, it will be seen that 'an apparatus of this type may Abe constructed so that it will occupy a limited oor space.

The operation of our invention, it isbelieved will be clear from the foregoing. An electric circuit is maintained which passes from the anodes to the rims or other objects suspended on the hooks and throurh the hooks and brushes to the rails 33. s each rim passes between rows of anodes, they -will all receive a thorough and complete electroplate before leaving the tank 9.

The foregoing .constitutes a detailed explanation o a preferred embodiment of our mvention, but it is to be understood that changes in `structural details, and modifications in the arrangement of the various parts may be resorted to without departing from the s irit of the invention unless otherwise speci ed by the claims appended hereto.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for use in electroplating annular objects comprising, in combination, a tank, a traveling conveyor adapted to transport the articles through the tank, a sloping runwa in the tank and means for lifting the objects onto the runway and permitting them to roll down the same without becoming permanently disengaged from the conveyor.

2. Apparatus for use in electro lating annular objects comprising, in com `ination, a tank, a traveling conveyor adapted to transport the articles through the tank,l a sloping runway in the tank, and means for lifting the articles in succession onto the runway to temporarily disengage them from the conveyor and to permit them to roll down said runway.

3. Apparatus for use in electroplating an.

nular objects comprising, in combination, a tank, a traveling conveyor adapted to transport the articles through the tank, 'a slo ing runway in the tank, and means tfor li ing the articles' in succession onto the runway to temporarily disengage them from the conveyor and to permit them to roll down said 4. Apparatus for use inY electroplating an- I nular objects comprisin in combinatiom a .plurality of hor1zonta-`iluid containing tanks, a traveling element adapted for transporting a series of the articles in an undulating path to pass them through said tanks, and means associated with one of the tanks for eiectin a gravitational rotating movemflalxlig: of eac article as it passes through said ta 5.' Apparatus for electroplating annular objects comprising in combination, a plurality of horizontal fluid containing tanks, a

travelin conveyor for transporting a series of artic es over the tanks, means for directing the travel of the conveyor in an undulating path to pass the articles through the i said tank.

tanks, and cooperating devices associated with the conveyor .and one of said tanks `adapted. to impart a gravitational rotary movement to each article as it passes through 6. Apparatus for electroplating annular objects comprising in combination, a plurality of horizontal fluid containing tanks, a`

`with the conveyor and one of the tanks adapted to intermittently impart a gravitational rotary passes through said tank.

7. Apparatus for electroplating annular objects comprising in combination, a plurality of horizontal fluid containing tanks including an electroplating tank, a traveling lconveyor adapted to transport the articles over said tanks, means for directing the travel of the conveyor in an undulating path to pass the articles through the tanks, and cooperating devices associated with the vconveyor and said electroplating tank adapted to intermittently effect a gravitational rotary Aaction of each article as it passes through said tank.

8. Apparatus for electroplatingannular objects comprising in combination, a plurality of horizontal tanks, a traveling conveyor for transporting a series of the articles over the tanks, a trackway adapted to direct the travel of the conveyor in an undulating path to ass the articles through said tanks, a plurality of arcuate rises in the trackway for intermittently lifting the conveyor in its travel over one of the tanks, swinging members depending from the conveyor adapted to support the articlesby engagement with their innerperipheries only, and a plurality of members in the tank adapted to engage the lower portion of each article and to lift it to a greater height than that to which said conveyor is lifted said members being adjustable in the path of travel of the objects.

9. Apparatus for electroplating annular objects comprising in combination, a plurality of horizontal fluid containing tanks including an electroplating tank, a traveling conveyor adapted to transport the articles over the tanks, a trackway adapted to direct the travel of the conveyor in an undulating path to pass the articles through the tanks, a plurality of arcuate rises in the trackway over the electroplating tank `f0r-intermit tently lifting the conveyor, swinging devices depending from the conveyor adapted to support the articles in position to be lifted and rotated relative to said devices, and means in said tank for lifting said articles action to each article as it in advance of said rises whereby they are rotated on said dependin devices.

conveyor adapted to suspend the articles in position to be rotated thereon," means in said tank adapted to impart a lifting action to said articles in advance of said rises, a contact rail over said tank, and a brush member uppn each device normally engaging ysaid rai 11. Apparatus for velectroplating annular obj ectscomprising in combination, a plurality of horizontal tanks including an electroplating tank, a traveling conveyor for transporting the articles over said tanks, a trackway adapted to direct the conveyor in anundulating path to pass the articles through said tanks, devices upon the conveyor for suspending the articles therefrom in position to be lifted and rotated, means in said tank for intermittently lifting the articles upon said devices, a contact rail over said tank, anodes in said tank, and a pivoted brush on eaclh device adapted to normally engage said ral 12. Apparatus for electroplating annular objects comprising, in combination, a plurality of fluid containing tanks, means for suspending and transporting a series of annular objects so that they will pass successively through the tanks, and means in one tank arranged to temporarily disengage the articles from said first means and to eilect a gravitational rolling movement thereof prior to reengagement therewith.

13. An apparatus for electroplating annular objects comprising, an electroplating bath, a conveyor over the bath, hooks eX- tending from the conveyor for supporting the objects to be plated, an electrical conductor over the bath, and brushes associated with said hooks and adapted to yieldingly contact said conductor.

14. An apparatus for electroplating rims or similar objects comprising, an electroplating bath, a conveyor parallel to said rect the travel of the conveyor in an un-r and means in the tank cooperating with said first means to effect a step by step rotation of said articles and comprising a lurality of inclined runways adapted for adjustment in the path of travel of the objects.

16. Apparatus for electroplating annular objects including in combination, a iuid containing electroplating tank, means for transporting a series of articles in suspended position through said tank and in an unulating path, and means in the tank cooperating with said first means'to effect a step by step rotation of said articles and comprising a plurality of runways arranged in the'path of travel of the articles.

17. Apparatus for electroplating annular objects comprising in combination, a plurality of tanks, a traveling conveyor for transporting a series of articles over the tanks, a trackway adapted to direct the travel of the conveyor in an undulating path to pass the articles through said tanks, a plurality of arcuate rises in the trackway for intermittently lifting the conveyor in its travel over one of the tanks, 'swinging members depending from the conveyor adapted to support the articles by engagement with their inner peripheries onl and a plurality of members in the tank a apted to enga e the lower and to ift it to a height greater than that toA which said conveyor is lifted;

18. Apparatus for electroplating annular objects comprising in combination, a plurality of horizontal fiuid containing tanks including an electroplating tank, a. traveling conveyor adapted to transport the articles over the tanks, a trackway adapted to diortion of each article dulatin path to pass the articles throu h tlie tan s, a plurality of arcuate rises in t e trackway over the electroplating tank for intermittently lifting the conveyor, swing' ing devices depending from the conveyor ada ted to support the articles in position to be ifted and rotated relative to said devices, and means in said tank for lifting said articles whereby they are rotated on said depending devices.

19. Apparatus for electroplating annular ob'ects comprising in combination, a lura it of horizontal tanks including an e ectrop ating tank, a traveling conveyor for transportino the articles over said tanks, a trackway adapted to direct the conveyor in an undulating path to pass the articles through said tanks, devices upon the conveyor for suspending the articles therefrom in osition to be lifted and rotated, means in sai tank for intermittently lifting the articles upon said devices, a contact rail over said tank, anodes in said tank, a brush on each device, and means to yieldingl urge. each brush into engagement with said rail.

20. Apparatus' for electroplating `annular objects including in combination, a fluid containing electroplatin tank, means for transporting a series o articles over the tank in an undulating path to immerse them in said iuid and withdraw them therefrom, and means in the tank cooperating with said first means to e'cct a step by step rotation of said articles and comprising a plurality of inclined runways in the path of travel of the objects.

JOSEPH G. SWAIN. MAX H. PADE. 

